You've heard of sibling rivalry, right? Brothers and sisters often get on each other's nerves and nudge each other. Well, for Yaakov and Eisav, "sibling rivalry" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship. The two of them couldn't have been any more different. From day one (and even before that) they were as different as day and night.
As Yaakov and Eisav grew up, their personalities became more and more clear. Eisav loved to hunt, and Yaakov loved to learn Torah. Eisav was cruel - going as far as robbing and murdering - and Yaakov was well-mannered and kind.
But Eisav did do one mitzvah very well: honoring his father, Yitzchak. After Eisav hunted, he would cook the meat and serve it to his father. He did it nicely, too, dressed in his good clothes. Yitzchak liked that, and, in fact, he loved Eisav.
The truth is that Eisav had done a good job of tricking his father into believing that he had been going to Yeshiva and was keeping the Torah laws. But it was all a lie.
Meanwhile, Rivkah was able to see through Eisav's deceptions. She saw him for what he really was - and she loved Yaakov more.
All of this was one big problem just waiting to happen!
Fair and Square
When the twins were 15 years old, their grandfather, Avraham, passed away. Yaakov was cooking a pot of red-hot lentil stew for the traditional meal served to mourners, when Eisav came home from hunting. He hadn't caught anything, and he was exhausted and hungry.
"Give me that stuff you're cooking!" bellowed Eisav. "I am STARVING!"
Yaakov thought about that. Here was Eisav, and he wanted something that Yaakov had... well, there was also something Eisav had that Yaakov really deserved...
"Sure, Eisav, you can have some lentils... for a price. I'll trade them for your birthright as the firstborn son!"
The firstborn son had the special honors of the kohanim (priestly class), who had the privilege of working in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) and were given special blessings. Nothing of much interest to Eisav!
"You want that useless birthright?" Eisav answered. "Who needs the hassle, anyway? You can have it. I WANT THAT FOOD! Pour that red stuff right down my throat, and do it NOW!"
What a Bargain
And that's exactly what Yaakov did - with pleasure.
Eisav was happy. Those lentils sure hit the spot.
When he was done licking his lips, he said to Yaakov, "Mmm. Good stuff. A whole lot better than some silly old birthright!"
But Yaakov knew who really got the better end of the deal.
Where Have We Heard This One Before?
Some time later, there was a famine in the land of Canaan (later to be known as Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel) with little food to be found. Yitzchak thought he should go down to Egypt, as his father Avraham had done in a similar situation.
But HaShem told him, "Don't go. You were born here in this holy land, and you will stay here. I will protect you."
So Yitzchak stayed in Canaan and settled in the city of Gerar, home of the Plishtim (Philistines). The people there asked Yitzchak, "Who is that woman with you?"
Yitzchak didn't want to tell them that Rivkah was his wife. She was very beautiful and Yitzchak was afraid that the Plishtim would kill him and take Rivkah to marry King Avimelech. (Does this story sound a bit familiar? It should... remember what happened when Avraham and Sarah crossed the border into Egypt, way back in Parshat Lech Lecha?)
So Yitzchak announced that Rivkah was his sister.
King Avimelech (all the kings in Plishtim were called Avimelech, just as the Egyptian kings were all called Paraoh) heard about Rivkah and wanted to marry her, but he had a funny feeling that maybe she was actually Yitzchak's wife. He had heard about that other king, Paraoh, who was punished with nasty plagues when he tried to marry Avraham's wife, Sarah - and Avimelech didn't want to take any chances!
So Avimelech observed Rivkah and Yitzchak talking and laughing together, and they just didn't seem like they were brother and sister...
"Yitzchak!" Avimelech shouted. "You lied to me. Rivkah is your wife!"
"I had to tell you she was my sister, or I might have been killed!" Yitzchak answered. "Well, don't worry. I see that you and your wife are holy and righteous people. From now on, I will personally watch out for your safety." A royal proclamation was issued, "Anyone who dares touch Yitzchak or his wife will be put to death!"
Many Years Later...
As Yitzchak grew old, his eyesight became weak and dim. He felt that his life might soon come to an end, so he called his beloved older son, Eisav, to his bedside. (Remember, Yitzchak didn't know that Eisav had given up his birthright privileges to his brother Yaakov.)
"Eisav, my son, I want to give you my blessing, since you are my firstborn son. But first, go hunt an animal and prepare a delicious, meal for me. You will do the mitzvah of honoring your father, and then I will bless you."
Eisav went to do what his father had asked of him. But little did he know that his mother, Rivkah, had overheard Yitzchak's request, and things were about to get rather complicated.
The Plan
Rivkah ran to get Yaakov. She told him what was going on.
"Yaakov, my son, I have a plan. Eisav doesn't deserve the blessing - you do. I've prepared some nice young goat meat for your father, just the way he likes it. Get dressed up like Eisav... here is his nice hunting coat... and here... wear these goat skins! Put them on your arms and neck and you'll be as hairy as Eisav! Since father can't see well he'll think you are Eisav - and will give you the blessing that is rightfully yours."
Yaakov got dressed, and Rivkah gave him the meat, cooked and ready to go.
Something Strange is Going On
Yaakov entered his father's room. He was terrified! What if his father realized that he was being tricked?
"Who is there?" Yitzchak asked.
Yaakov chose his words very carefully, so that he would not have to tell a lie. "It is I," replied Yaakov, and after waiting a few seconds continued, "Eisav (is) your firstborn son. Father, please eat what I have brought you so that you may bless me."
Yitzchak was confused. It didn't sound like Eisav's rough voice...
"Come here and let me touch you," Yitzchak said.
Yaakov stepped closer, and his father touched his goatskin-covered hands. Now Yitzchak was even more confused, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov, but the hands are the hands of Esav!"
Still, whoever was in front of him did have the smell of the field about him. Finally, Yitzchak was convinced that it was indeed his son Eisav who was standing in front of him. And so, Yitzchak blessed Yaakov with the best of everything - plentiful rain and dew, abundant grain and wine. He blessed Yaakov that he will rule over his brother, and that the nations of the world will bow to him. Those who cursed him will be cursed, and those who blessed him will be blessed.
All in all, a very generous blessing!
A Close Call
Just after Yitzchak finished his blessing, Yaakov heard Eisav's footsteps approaching! Quickly, he hid behind the tent door and waited silently until the coast was clear. After Eisav had entered and was looking the other way, Yaakov sneaked out.
"Here I am! I have meat for you! Now I want my blessing!" Eisav called to his father. Now Yitzchak was confused all over again. What was going on? Who was that? Eisav? It did sound just like him. And if Eisav just came in, then... who was there just a moment before?
Too Late
"Some one else just brought me some meat, and I already gave him my blessing," Yitzchak said. "It must have been Yaakov! First he took my birthright, and now my blessing! It's not fair!" Eisav cried.
"Eisav, I will bless you, too. You will be successful in war, but you will not be more powerful than your brother - unless the Jewish people do not follow the ways of the Torah."
Boy, did Eisav hate Yaakov after that! Thanks to Yaakov, he ended up with a second-rate blessing!
Rivkah, afraid that Eisav might hurt Yaakov, sent Yaakov away to Charan. Remember Charan? That's where Avraham's family lived - including Rivkah's big brother, Lavan. There, Yaakov would be safe from harm, and from among Rivkah's relatives, he would also find a girl to marry.
Leaving Eisav to stew in his anger, Yaakov set off on his journey. He hoped that a little cooling-off time would calm Eisav. Yaakov would just need to stay out of town for a while - say, a few months... or a few years... or maybe a few decades... How long could Eisav burn with anger? Would Yaakov ever feel safe from his own twin brother?
by O. Werner © 1998 Toldos Yossi & Co. is brought to you by Ohr Somayach
"... and Rivkah his wife became pregnant. And the children struggled inside her ..." (Bereishis 25:21-22)
When she passed a place of Torah study Yaakov struggled to get out. When she passed a place of idol worship Esav struggled to get out. (Rashi)
